PREFACE. 



This was accomplished by the end of 1841, and placed by Mr. 

 Voigt at the disposal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 

 who generously engaged to defray the expenses of the publication. 

 After the first sixteen pages had passed through the Press however, 

 obstacles arose to the acceptance of the Society's offer, and the 

 printing of the work was suspended; so that when in 1842 the 

 temporary charge of the H. C. Botanic Garden furnished him 

 with opportunities for making additions to the work, he eagerly 

 improved them to the utmost of his power. These were completed 

 only the week before he was attacked with the distressing and 

 severe illness which rendered recourse to a more salubrious climate 

 immediately necessary. 



He accordingly left India early in 1843, in the hope that restored 

 health would enable him to carry the Catalogue through the Press 

 either in England or in Denmark — but his lamented death in 

 London on the 22nd June 1843, only a few weeks after his arrival 

 in England, and when just on the eve of departure for his native 

 land, at once frustrated every plan. 



The manuscripts were after this detained by mistake in London, 

 instead of being forwarded to Copenhagen. From thence they 

 were brought back to Lidia, and by the advice of the late Mr. 

 Wm. Grifl&th, once more put to Press at the commencement of 

 1844, and it is solely to the kindness of this valued friend, that 

 they owe their appearance, he having generously offered his in- 

 valuable services in superintending their progress through the 

 Press. 



The printing of the Catalogue was completed a few days before 

 Mr. Griffith's removal to Malacca, but his departure prevented his 

 preparing a Review of the work, which, with the Indexes and 

 other parts necessary to its publication, he had kindly promised to 

 furnish. These he proposed to forward from the Straits, but his 

 melancholy and premature death soon deprived his friends and the 

 interests of science of the invaluable services of this eminent 

 Botanist. A few remarks which he made therefore in writing to a 

 friend on receiving the manuscripts whilst at the H. C. Botanic 

 Garden, are all that can now be given to shew his opinion of their 

 meiits. 



" The MSS." he says " are very valuable indeed, and the 

 " arrangements so clear, the writing so lucid, the whole tendency 



